News & Events News Week-end wrap-up (May 30-31) | Week-end wrap-up (May 30-31) |
|
|
|
|
Monash University men's seniors and reserves travelled to Warragul on Saturday, June 1st, for the round 10 Provisional League Division 1 match. Rain fell during much of the early afternoon making the playing surface wet and heavy going. The seniors started their game purposefully with Michael Goddard making a great run into the box in the opening minutes only to see his cross/shot miss by a narrow margin and also fail to connect with a late run from Liam Johnson. Monash battled well and won the physical contests in trying conditions. Miles Rodriquez and Nick Mallios worked hard in the midfield and Julio Serrano controlled play with some good passing. At the back the trio of Beck, Lim and Vinecombe got tight and kept a good shape, limiting any Warragul opportunities. 
Monash dominated the first half and created several good openings without capitalising, until Ariel Salmon lashed home from the edge of the box mid way through the half, giving the Warragul keeper no chance. Salmon is the currently the leading scorer in the league with 7 goals from 9 games. Good lead up play from Michael Goddard and Miles Rodriquez created the chance.
Michael
Goddard and Liam Johnson got into some great areas but often the final
ball was below par. Wellington Munyar worked hard in leading the
forward line closing down the Warragul defence and pressuring. Warragul
created little and Rodrigo Beccera was called to make two regulation saves
which he did comfortably, although Warragul had a period of resurgence
for the last 10 minutes of the half. Half-time score - 1-0 to Monash.
Monash then conceded a soft goal from a free kick 10 minutes from
time resulting in a headed goal to Warragul substitute Nilo. Wellington
Munyar popped up however minutes later to leave the Warragul defence flat-footed to score his sixth goal of the season and Monash gained another
well deserved victory to move them closer to the top of the league - second
place and 2 points behind leaders Fitzroy City. This week is a rest week for the Monash boys, although there will be training on Saturday morning. Next game is versus Endeavour United on June 13th who have won their last few games and are steadily moving up the table with some new signings. Go blues! Another day of missed chances for the Monash University Colts saw them miss out on an extra 2 points once again as they drew with Old Trinity Grammarians. Ned Rocke struck the bar with an early free kick from 30 yards, and while his follow up attempt was blocked, it wasn't long before the Colts took the lead. An obvious handball in the penalty area allowed captain Binh Hoang to slot the resultant penalty kick, and the Colts were away. A solid defence was the foundation for a good first half, Scott Josey almost adding a second after a marauding run from his own half. Despite a slight fade during the last 10 minutes, the Colts were well worth their lead at the break, and came out firing in the second half. Tom Millard and Pedro Pires continued their dominance of the right hand side of the pitch, Pedro even emulating his twin Cristiano Ronaldo, finding a non-existent space between two defenders in the box before firing wide. Tolga Akkurt was the next to go close, striking the ball into the upright from 20 yards, before narrowly missing from the rebound. Not five minutes later, he went close again, his low shot curling just wide of the post. Alex Mclean, on loan from the Stallions, struck the woodwork again shortly after and a second goal looked inevitable. However it was not to be - Old Trinity creating their only chance from a free kick which squeezed through the heavy gloves of Mark Warren 10 minutes from time. The Colts kept their heads up and continued to press, but lady luck avoided them again as Neeraj Chadee became the fourth Monash player to be frustrated by the frame of the goal, attempting to chip the keeper after beating two defenders. A dominant performance from the Colts, but it just wasn't meant to be. The final score, Old Trinity Grammarians 1-1 Monash University.
To be recorded in the history books as Old Scotch's on-field equal will be a stigma the Monash Stallions will have to endure for the rest of eternity. In a game of spilled milk and tears, Old Scotch suckled at the teat of Monash anguish and frustration. 
The best that could be said of this game was that at least it was a draw. The worst that could be said would dredge the depths of human depravity, and no simple words on the page could capture the true abhorrence that unfolded at 1pm on a superb late autumn afternoon. The Stallions were the only team that ever threatened to score with Michael Pogrebnoy providing Old Scotch with their best scoring attempt bombing in a "hearts in the mouth" long range bouncing back-pass from about 35m out. However it seemed the hard and bumpy deck was too much to handle for our overconfident forward line, and prime opportunities were wasted by nearly every forward. Still at half time optimism was still raging high, with a confident Nektar committing himself to never leave the ground until victory was assured. The second half though mirrored the first, with few lessons being heeded for exactly the same result. Domination all over the pitch except for where it counted. There were positives however even on this depressing day. The entire defensive line kept Old Scotch from ever entering the game, while up forward a tireless Arnold was the standout in attack. An enterprising cameo role by Peter Ferris at striker almost proved the hero at the death but twas not to be, and the Stallions were left to rue their lost chances, and rue them hard. A nil all draw the result.
If indeed one single lesson was to be learned from this match it was that a certain coach will now NOT be referring to any upcoming game as a potential "Yippee Shoot" lest those future words yet again come back to haunt him. |
|
| Last Updated ( Monday, 08 June 2009 ) |